Policy
Coast Guard Cutter returns to Oregon port
Coast Guard officials said the Coast Guard Cutter Steadfast crew recently returned to its homeport in Astoria, Ore., after a 57-day eastern Pacific Ocean counter-narcotics patrol. Authorities said the mission included the deployment of an aviation detachment from Helicopter Interdiction Tactical... Read More »
Sens. Tillis, Blackburn introduce bill to combat foreign threats to steal COVID-19 research
U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced a bill that would give the president the authority to sanction foreign nations that try to steal American research on COVID-19. The Defend COVID Research from Hackers Act authorizes sanctions that would specifically target a... Read More »
New committee forms in Washington to improve pandemic preparedness
Lawmakers and public health officials, along with officials from the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, have launched the Capitol Hill Steering Committee on Pandemic Preparedness & Health Security. This nonpartisan group will convene educational... Read More »
Democrats blast HHS for allowing lab-developed COVID-19 tests to market without FDA review
Recent news that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) had overruled the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to allow COVID-19 lab-developed tests to come to market without FDA review was met by major warnings from House Democrats this week. In a letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar,... Read More »
DHS proposes rule to enhance the H-1B nonimmigrant visa program
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced an interim final rule designed to strengthen the H-1B nonimmigrant visa program for U.S. workers. The H-1B program was designed to allow employers to fill gaps in their workforce; however, it has now expanded far beyond that, often to the... Read More »
DHS releases Homeland Threat Assessment report
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released its Homeland Threat Assessment (HTA) – a report that synthesizes threat information across DHS, including intelligence and operational components. “This HTA is as close as the American people will get to seeing and understanding the... Read More »
Lawmakers seek assurances on continued immunization efforts
A group of lawmakers recently forwarded correspondence to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) personnel, seeking continued immunization efforts. Sens. Tom Carper (D-DE), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Tina... Read More »
HHS Secretary Giroir to participate in virtual WHO COVID-19 session
The World Health Organization (WHO) hosted a special session of its Executive Board this week, providing an opportunity for discussion and review with Member States and seeking their guidance regarding strategic response efforts for COVID-19. While President Donald Trump announced earlier this... Read More »
U.S. must bolster security for biological threats, say federal agency leaders
The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged individual and cooperative efforts by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and the U.S. State Department to counter biological threats around the world, prompting lawmakers to reevaluate the dangers that infectious disease outbreaks pose to U.S. national... Read More »
Sens. Hoeven, Rosen seek to enhance cybersecurity at US Department of Energy
U.S. Sens. John Hoeven (R-ND) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) introduced legislation that would create a voluntary Cyber Sense program at the Department of Energy to test the cybersecurity of products and technologies intended for use in the bulk-power system The Cyber Sense Act (S.4795) would also... Read More »
Rep. Thompson urges House rules changes to allow for DHS reforms
Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) is advocating for a change to the House of Representative’s Rules to give the Committee on Homeland Security primary jurisdiction over the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Both Republicans and Democrats have expressed openness to revisiting House Rule X and... Read More »
Bipartisan lawmakers seek ports reopening plan
A group of lawmakers recently forwarded correspondence to Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf, seeking insight regarding Department of Homeland Security (DHS) plans to reopen southern entry ports. Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) joined Reps. Henry Cuellar (D-TX),... Read More »
FBI, NCSC film highlights foreign intelligence actions
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) have released a film designed to increase awareness regarding foreign intelligence activities. The presentation outlines how entities use fake profiles and other forms of deception on social... Read More »
Legislation proposed by U.S. Reps. Carter, Blunt Rochester would create essential medicines strategic stockpile
The Essential Medicines Strategic Stockpile Act of 2020, introduced last week by U.S. Reps. Early Cater (R-GA) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) would create an essential medicines strategic stockpile and reduce supply chain reliance on foreign nations. "At the beginning of the Coronavirus... Read More »The Rockefeller Foundation, HHS will develop best practices for scale rapid POC antigen tests for COVID-19
As part of a community-focused move, particularly among schools, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and The Rockefeller Foundation have agreed to identify and share effective approaches for using rapid point-of-care antigen tests to screen for COVID-19. The pilot... Read More »
Democratic Senators introduce bill to establish core health infrastructure at CDC
A group of Democratic U.S. Sens. sponsored legislation to establish a new core public health infrastructure program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Public Health Infrastructure Saves Lives Act (PHISLA) would include up to $4.5 billion in annual funding to fight... Read More »
Reps. Spanberger, Katko introduce bill to protect against foreign influence in elections
U.S. Reps. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) and John Katko (R-NY) introduced legislation to protect against foreign influence designed to weaken the U.S. electoral system. A statement from the U.S. Intelligence Community reported in August that “foreign states will continue to use covert and overt... Read More »
Congress must reform EB-5 immigration program to ensure national security, lawmaker says
America's foreign adversaries, chief among them China, could utilize one of the federal government's most noteworthy immigration programs against the United States, threatening its national security and undermining democracy, U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) told Homeland Preparedness... Read More »
Bill targets antimicrobial resistance
Sens. Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Todd Young (R-IN) introduced this week legislation designed to address antimicrobial resistance via drug development targeting infections, improving antibiotics use, and ensuring domestic availability. The Pioneering Antimicrobial Subscriptions to End Upsurging... Read More »
House China Task Force makes recommendations to address threats, strength supply chains
Members of the House China Task released its final legislative report, which includes an assessment of the growing threats posed by China, policies that strengthen America’s supply chains and economy, and opportunities to expand agriculture. The task force, which launched in May, met with 125... Read More »
TSA, CBP extend Preclearance program invitation
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials said the agencies have invited airports to participate in the Preclearance program for the first time in four years. “Preclearance is an excellent passenger facilitation program that complements our... Read More »Reps. Moulton, Banks release report on future of defense
Reps. Seth Moulton (D-MA) and Jim Banks (R-IN), the co-chairs of the Future of Defense Task Force, released their final report with recommendations to enhance the national security innovation base to meet emerging threats. Specifically, the report suggests strategies to win the artificial... Read More »
Sen. Tester introduces bill designed to help federal firefighters
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester introduced a bill that seeks to correct a longstanding disparity between federal firefighters and their state, local, and municipal counterparts. The Federal Firefighter Flexibility and Fairness Act would allow federal firefighters more flexibility in shift trades without... Read More »
Lawmakers urge congressional leaders to take action on COVID-19 relief
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Rep. Josh Harder (D-CA) are among a group of lawmakers urging congressional leadership to include a six-month extension for states and local governments to spend their funding allocations provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in... Read More »
Bill targets fraudulent firearms, ammunition sales
Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) introduced a measure they said is designed to make it illegal to fraudulently sell firearms and ammunition online by circumventing technology companies’ terms of service. The Stop Online Fraudulent Sales of Firearms Act is part of a larger... Read More »
GAO calls for NNSA to develop formal plans detailing cost, benefit and risk of W87-1 warhead program
National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) plans to replace the W78 nuclear warhead with the W87-1 in 2030 are hamstrung by a lack of formal plans to assess cost, schedule, benefits, or risk, with as much as $14.8 billion on the line, according to the Government Accountability Office... Read More »
Trump administration lays out national distribution plan for Abbott BinaxNOW Ag Card rapid COVID-19 test
The federal government began its rollout of the Abbott BinaxNOW Ag Card rapid COVID-19 test to states this week with the announcement of a national distribution plan meant to support K-12 schools, higher education, critical infrastructure, first responders, and others as needed. The test is... Read More »
Underwood to chair cybersecurity subcommittee
House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) has appointed Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL) to chair the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection and Innovation. “From persistent attempts by foreign adversaries to influence our elections to growing... Read More »
Bicameral bill proposes cybersecurity assistance and improvements for small organizations
With the introduction of the Improving Cybersecurity of Small Organizations Act of 2020 (S. 4731) last week, a bipartisan mix of senators and representatives seek to promote guidance on cybersecurity for small organizations such as businesses, nonprofits and local government agencies. Among... Read More »
House advances bill that seeks to improve outage, disaster information reporting
The U.S. House of Representatives advanced legislation last week that would direct the Federal Communications Commission to issue reports after activation of the Disaster Information Reporting System and make improvements to network outage reporting. The passage of the Emergency Reporting Act... Read More »
Senate Republicans introduce bill to modify or repeal regulations that impede pandemic response
A bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate that seeks to repeal or modify regulations that have impeded the ability of the government to rapidly respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Pandemic Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Act establishes a commission charged with prioritizing regulation... Read More »
Victoria Coleman sworn to DARPA director post
Victoria Coleman, appointed as the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) 22nd director, received the oath of office from Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Michael Kratsios. Coleman, who most recently served as senior advisor on microelectronics... Read More »
CDC to provide $200M for critical infrastructure support of COVID-19 vaccine preparations
All 64 jurisdictions under the Immunizations and Vaccines for Children cooperative agreement will receive $200 million from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the coming days, as a means of supporting COVID-19 vaccination services. The money will aid both planning and... Read More »
Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense prepares for next pandemic
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is revealing major gaps in national readiness to prepare for, respond to, and recover from biological threats, requiring that decision makers consider improved policies, programs, and technologies to ramp up the federal defense, experts said during the Sept. 24 virtual... Read More »